Steam-engine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) I

R. PHILLIPS.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 430,681. Patented-June 24, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. PHILLIPS.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 430,681. Patented June 24, 1890.

(No Model) 4 Sheets-Shet 3. R. PHILLIPS.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 430,681. Patented June 24, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. R. PHILLIPS;

STEAM ENGINE}.

No. 430,681. Patented June 24, 1890v i 43 W I 41/ all f 5 d I f j nmiffl i Z75 O M l TERS cm, mo'nrurua, wasumcwn u c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUSSELL PHILLIPS, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR OF FOUR-FIFTHS TO BENJAMIN P.

RYDER, OF EAST BRAINTREE, AND FRANKLIN KEITH, OF EASTBRIDGE- WVATER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,681, dated June 24, 1890.

Application filed April 2, 1890- Serial No. 346,264. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUssELL PHILLIPS, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is afront elevation of my improved engine; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section enlarged of the cylinder, showing the piston and valve; Fig. 4, a sectional elevation of the cylinder, the face-plate being removed to show the valve-controlling latch; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the cylinder, one end being shown in vertical transverse section; Fig. 6, a plan view illustrating certain details of construction; Fig. 7, a rear elevation showing the switching device; Fig. 8, a perspective view of the crank and cut-off-valve link, showing the cams; and Fig. 9, a sectional view illustrating details of construction.

Like letters and figures of reference inclicate corresponding parts in the difiere'nt figures of the drawings.

Myinvention relates to steam'engines which may be instantly reversed at any point of the stroke, the form shown being especially adapted for use as a marine engine; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simpler, cheaper, and more effective device of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation. r In the drawings, A represents a base-plate, upon which a semi-tubular vertical standard B is mounted. At each side thereof a vertical post or way I) is disposed, in which the cross-head d is fitted to slide vertically.

The cylinder 0 is mounted vertically on a plate f, secured to the top of the standard and ways. The cylinder-heads g h are extended laterally, and a steam-chest i is formed therewith at the rear side of said cylinder. A vertical partitionj is arranged in the chest i, forming a valve-chamber with the cylinderwall is and an exhaust-chamber Z with the outer wall'of the chest, through which an exhaust-pipe m opens. Exhaust-ports p q, Fig.

, 3, connect the valve-chamber and exhaust at the top and bottom of said partition.

A hollow sliding valve D, approximately rectangular in cross-section, (see Fig. 5,) is fitted 'to move vertically in the valve-chamber and alternately close the exhaust-ports p q. Supply-ports r t open into the cylinder through its chest-wall, said ports being in alignment with the exhausts p q. The horizontal ends 41 w of the valve are extended, forming arms, which, respectively, project through the supply-ports into the cylinder, a portion of the inner face of the cylinder-head being sunken so that the faces of said arms may be flush with the faces of said heads, respectively.

A supply-pipe y passes through the chestwall across the chamberl and through the partition j, an elongated or oval opening ,2.

being formed in the adjacent valve-wall (see Figs. 3 and 5) to admit steam therefrom into the hollow valve.

A cut-off valve F is fitted to slide longitudinally within the chamber 16 of the valve D against the inner cylinder-wall 7a. A fiat spring 15 on said cut-off bears against the outer valve-wall and holds it in engagement with said wall it.

The piston G is fitted to slide vertically in the cylinder, its rod H passing through the lower head It thereof to the cross-head d.

A horizontal driving-shaft K is journaled in boxes 17 below the bed A, and bears a crank 18, connected by a pivoted rod 19 with said head.

A hollow spool 20 (see Fig. 3) is fitted to slide vertically through the piston -head G, said head being countersunk to admit the heads of the spool. A coiled spring 21 is disposed within the spool, and its ends project repectively through the heads thereof in position to engage the valve-arms c w, in which indentations 22 are formed to receive the ends of said springs.

A rod 23 is turned into the lower end of the cut-off valve and passes vertically downward through the lower wall of the steam-chest. Said rod is extended through the base A, and a link 24 is formed thereon astride the shaft K. The lower end of the rod works in a bracket 25, and a coiled spring 26,interposed between said bracket and link, serves to support the rod, and thereby the cut-off valve. Two cams 28 and 29 (see Figs. 1 and 8) project inwardly from opposite sides of the link 24 in position to be engaged by a cam 30 on the shaft K, whereby the rod 23 is actuated and the cut-off moved. The motion of the cut-off may readily be timed by the position of the cams, which are so arranged in the present instance that the cut-off valve will be moved at every one-half revolution of the shaft.

A fixed guide 31 (see Fig. 2) is secured to the bottom of the steam-chest and in said guide an arm 33 on the rod 23 works. By turning said arm to rotate said rod the link 24 may be moved laterally, so that its cams will not be engaged by the cam 30 on the shaft. The cut-off valve may thus be rendered inoperative when it is desired to use a full head of steam on the engine.

In'one side wall of the steam-chesta chamber 35 (see Fig. 5) is formed, said chamber being closed by the face-plate 36. Pins 37 and 38, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) secured, respectively, at each end of the valve, project through a suitable oblong opening 39 in the chest-wa1l. A valve-controlling latch 40 is disposed loosely in the chamber 35, and at its respective ends has heads 41 and 42, which project laterally through suitable openings in the cylinder-wall in position to be engaged by the piston, the outer ends of said heads being beveled to permit the piston to pass freely when it engages them, as shown in Fig. 4. Right-angled grooves 44 are formed in the latch-body, through which the valve-pins 37 and 38, respectively, project. Aflat spring45 in the outer wall of the chamber 35 bears against the latch and tends to throw its heads into the cylinder. The piston-head engaginga latch-head, as 41, (see Fig. 4,) throws said head inward and moves the latch outward, so that the valve-pin 37 moves out from the horizontal portion of the anglegroove 44 and may enter the vertical portion of said groove, the valve being thus freed to move upward into the position shown in Fig. 4. As the latch thus moves, the valve-pin 38 at the opposite end enters the horizontal portion of the latch-groove 44, and locks the valve against downward movement until the piston has completed its downward stroke sufficiently to engage the opposite latch-head 42. A rectangular plate (see Fig. 4) is disposed in the chambers 35 with its face approximately in contact with the face of the latch. A longitudinal slot 51 is formed in each end of said plate, and the wall of said slots adjacent to the cylinder is beveled at 52. Beveled studs 53 and 54, disposed, respectively, near the latch-heads 41 and 42, are adapted to engage the beveled slot-walls as the plate is moved vertically and be forced into the main portions of said slots, the corresponding latch-head being thereby withdrawn from the cylinder. Two studs 55 are formed centrally on the plate, and a lever 57, mounted on a stub-shaft 58 in the chamber 35, has its free end disposed between said studs and is adapted to actuate said plate. The stub-shaft projects through the faceplate 36, and on its outer end a hand-lever 59 is mounted, whereby the valve D maybe controlled and the engine reversed, as hereinafter described. A coiled spring 60 connects the lever 59 with the cylinder.

An arm 62 is fast to the stub-shaft 58, and a vertical rod 63 is pivoted by one end to the outer end of said arm. Said rod is fitted to enter and slide in a groove in the table f on the ways 1), as indicated at 64 in Fig. 7.

A standard 65 is secured to the bed A, and a horizontal plate 66 is pivoted to the upper end. (See Fig. 6.) An actuating-lever 67, provided with a knob and working in a guide, is pivoted eccentrically to said plate. The plate (36 has an arm 68, (see Fig. 6,) adapted to engage and move the rod 63 laterally, and with a curved groove 69 for locking said rod. A cone-shaped cam 70, having a rectangular base, (shown in Figs. 7 and 2,) is adj ustably secured in the lower end of the rod 63, and is adapted to be engaged by the cross-head d, and said rod thereby elevated. A double cone-shaped cam 71 is adjustably secured to the rod 63, above the plate 66, and is adapted to engage the table f and throw said rod outward to disengage its cam from the crosshead. A coiled spring 72 connects the rod 63 with the guide 31, and tends to draw said rod into the looking-groove of the plate 66.

In the use of my improvement, the parts being in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, live steam from the supply y passes into the chamber 1.6 of the hollow valve D and in the direction of arrow 90, through port 7', between the piston and cylinder-head g. The piston now begins its downward stroke and the steam in the cylinder exhausts through port 15, (arrows 91,) into chamber Z and out the exhaust-pipe m. As the piston completes its stroke, the end of the spring 21 engages the valve-arm w. The spool 20 is forced upward through the piston-head and said spring is compressed. Simultaneously the piston e11- gages the cam-head 42 on the latch 40, moving said latch inward and freeing the valvepin 38, to enter the vertical portion of the latch-groove 44, at which point the accumulated force of the spring 21, hearing against the valve, forces it downward and closes the IIO exhaust 15, opens a corresponding exhaust-port at the upper end of the cylinder and a supply-port r at the lower end of the wall It. By

' this movement of the latch the valve-pin 37 has entered the horizontal portion of the groove 44., and its head 41 has been projected into the cylinder in position to be engaged by the piston on its return-stroke. Meanwhile the cam 30, on the shaft K, engaging the cam 28, on the link 24, has elevated the rod 23 and moved the cut-off valve F to close the supply of live steam into the cylinder until the valve has been moved by the spring, as above described, said cams being arranged in the present instance to move the shut-off at each half-revolution of the shaft.

It will be seen that the movements of the hollow sliding valve D are controlled absolutely and automatically by the latch 40, said valve being locked until released by the contact of the piston G with the latch cams or heads. The valve may also be controlled and moved ahead of the piston-stroke by means of the hand-lever 59 and plate 50, said plate being forced at will into engagement with the beveled studs 53 and 54 of the latch and freeing the valve therefrom. The lever 59 is employed in stopping and starting the engine, and may be used for reversing the same,

care being taken to time its movement so that the valve will be freed ahead of the piston-stroke. The reversal may, however, be more accurately accomplished by means of the cam-rod 63 and plate 66. The lever 67 being drawn outward forces the plate-arm 68 against said rod and swings it forward, so that its lower cam '70 will be in the track of the cross-head d on the upward stroke of the piston. The rod 63 is carried upward, thereby rotating the stub-shaft 5S and actuating the plate 50, which engages the latch-studs and unlocks the valve, as described, ahead of the piston-stroke and reversing the stroke in a manner which will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters without a more explicit description. As the rod 63 is thus moved upward, its upper cam 71, engaging the walls of the slot 64 in the cylinder-head, throws said rod outward into the locking-groove 69 of the plate 66. As soon as the rod 67 is released the coiled spring 72, connecting the cam-rod and fixed guide 31, contracts and swings said rod, and'with it the plate 66, out of the track of the cross-head.

Then it is desired to quickly apply fullhead of steam to the engine and attain full speed immediately, the arm 33 is moved to rotate the rod 23, throwing the shaft and linkcams out of line. Said arm is thus disposed in a loop 99 of the guide 31, centering the cutoff valve and preventing accidental vertical movement.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is 1. In a steam-engine, a piston, a hollow spool or drum fittedto slide in an opening in said piston, a hollow sliding valve, a locking mechanism therefor adapted to be released by the piston and in position to engage and actuate said valve when released, and a coiled spring disposed in said spool with its ends protruding through opposite heads thereof, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-engine, a cylinder, a steamchest formed thereon, a partition in said chest forming a valve and exhaust chamber, ports in the ends of said partition and cylinder walls, a hollow sliding valve having heads projecting into the cylinder, a piston, a valve-lock ing mechanism released thereby, a drum fitted to slide in said piston, anda coiled spring protruding therefrom in position to engage and move said valve before the piston-stroke terminates, substantially as set forth.

3. In a steam-engine, a hollow sliding valve in the steam-chest provided with pins projecting into a chamber, as 35, on said chest, a latch in said chamber having right-angle grooves in which said pins slide, and a head projecting into the cylinder in position to be engaged by the piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a steam-engine, a hollow sliding valve in the steam-chest having arms projecting into the cylinder, a locking mechanism therefor adapted to be automaticallyreleased by the piston, and a spring in said piston adapted to engage the valve-arms and actuate said valve immediately succeeding the releasing of said locking mechanism and prior to the termination of the piston-stroke, substantially as described.

5. In a steamengine, a sliding valve proj ecting into the piston-cylinder, and a piston provided with a sliding drum or spool containing a coiled spring adapted to actuate said valve before the piston-stroke terminates, substantially as set forth.

6. In a steam-engine, a hollow sliding valve in the steamchest, a cut-off valve fitted to slide therein, a rod secured to said cut-off and provided with a link encircling the drivingshaft, and a cam on said shaft engaging cams on said link, whereby the cut-off may be actuated, substantially as described.

7 In a steamengine, the combination of a a cylinder, a steam-chest provided with an exhaust and valve chambers, a longitudinally-sliding hollow valve, a cut-off valve sliding therein and actuated by a cam on the driving -shaft, and means, substantially as specified, for disengaging said cut-off, substantially as set forth.

8. In a steam-engine, a steam-chest on the piston-cylinder provided with a valve and an exhaust chamber, a hollow sliding valve in said valve-chamber, a supply-pipe extending through said exhaust into the wall of the Valve-chamber and opening into an elongated port in the valve-wall, substantially as set forth.

9. In a steam-engine, a hollow steam-valve fitted to slide in the steamchest, mechanism for locking said valve automatically released by the piston, a hand-lever, and connecting mechanism for independently actuating said locking mechanism, substantially as set forth.

10. In a steam-engine, a hollow steam-valve fitted to slide in the steam-chest, mechanism for locking said valve adapted to be automatically released by the piston, a stub-shaft and connecting mechanism for independently actuating said locking device, and a camrod connected with said shaft and bearing a cam adapted to be thrown into the path of the piston cross-head, whereby said locking mechanism may be released i advance 0f the P ton-stroke, substantially {LS 5613 11. In a steam-engine, 13116 combination Of a cylinder, piston, and steam-chest, with a hollow sliding valve in said chest projecting into the cylinder, a locking-latch Working on pins on the valve and having cam-heads proj ecting into the cylinder in position to be engaged by the piston to release the valve, and a spring on the piston adapted to actuate said valve when released and prior to the completion of the piston-stroke, substantially as described.

12. The cylinder C and piston G, provided with the spool 20 and spring 21, in combination with the chest 2' and sliding valve D, having the arms 4) w,projectinginto said cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. The cylinder, chest, and piston, in combination with the hollow sliding valve projecting into said cylinder, the sliding spool and spring in said piston, and the lockin g-latch on said chest working on pins on said valve and having cam-arms projecting into said cylinder, all being arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

14. The cylinder 0 and chest t', provided with an exhaust-chamber Z, the sliding valve D, mounted in said chest and provided with the elongated supply-port z, and the pipe y, extended across said chamber and opening into said port, substantially as described.

15. The cylinder, chest, and piston, in combination with the hollow sliding valve, the cut-off valve, the driving-shaft and crankrods, the cam-rod connected with said outoff, and the cam on the driving-shaft for actuating said rod, substantially as set forth.

cams, substantially as set forth.

18. The hollow sliding valve disposed in the steam-chest and projecting into the cylinder and provided with pins projecting through slots in the chest-wall, in combination with a latch having right-angled grooves for said pins, whereby the valve is locked, and cam-arms projecting into the cylinder in position to be engaged by the piston, whereby said latch maybe moved to unlock the valve, substantially as described.

19. In a steam-engine provided with a hollow sliding valve in the steam-chest, a locking-latch mounted 011 the chest and having right-angle slots for pins on said valve, cams on the ends of said latch projecting into the cylinder in the path of the piston, and a spring for forcing said cams inward, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

20. In a steam-engine, a hollow steam-valve fitted to slide in the steam-chest, mechanism for locking said valve, a stub-shaft, and connecting mechanism for independently actuating said locking mechanism, a cam-rod connected with said shaftand provided with a cam adapted to be thrown intothe path of the piston cross-head, whereby the locking mechanism may be released and the valve moved in advance of the piston-stroke to reverse said stroke, substantially as described.

RUSSELL PHILLIPS. Witnesses:

O. M. SHAW, K. DURFEE. 

